The new Honorary Canons will be installed at Southwark Cathedral during Choral Evensong at 3pm on Sunday 13 September 2015.

Bishop Christopher says, "I am delighted that these gifted priests, who represent the many different forms of priestly ministry in the Diocese, have accepted my invitation to become Honorary Canons of Southwark Cathedral. In so doing they take on a responsibility as part of the mission and ministry of the Cathedral, acting as its ambassadors throughout the Diocese."

The Very Revd Andrew Nunn, Dean of Southwark, commenting on the appointments said, "The Chapter is delighted that we are able to welcome such a wonderful group of priests into the College of Canons. Each has made a real contribution to the life of the church in this Diocese and I know that they will also bring their experience and skills into the life of our Cathedral."

Short Biographies

The Revd Tim Bryan
Tim was ordained in Southwark Cathedral in 1996 and has served several honorary curacies in the Morden, Carshalton and Sutton deaneries. He has a unique perspective on the criminal justice system and the people caught up in it, having worked as a police officer and a prison chaplain. His professional background as a Detective Chief Inspector enabled him to specialise in the investigation of child abuse and the management of offenders in the community. For many years he was a child protection adviser to Southwark Diocese. He was a member of Lord Nolan's review into abuse within the Catholic Church in 2001. Since 2008 Tim has been the Managing Chaplain at Wandsworth Prison, running a multi-faith team supporting prisoners in custody and through the gate. His wife, Liz is an active chaplaincy volunteer and they maintain their sanity through family, friends and regular retreats to a house near Ephesus.

The Revd Dr Susan Clarke
Sue was ordained 9 years ago and has been a non-stipendiary Team Vicar in the Furzedown Team Ministry for the past 3 years. She is Assistant Area Dean of Tooting Deanery and chairs the Southwark Age and Spirituality (SAGE) Working Group. She is Secretary of the Southwark Diocesan Evangelical Union and is a member of the Bishops Advisory Group on Non-Stipendiary Ministry. She has recently undertaken research into non-stipendiary ministry in Southwark and completed an MA on the strategic use of NSM. She is widowed and has two grown up daughters. Her leisure activities include reading, choral singing and listening to early music.

The Revd Will Cookson
Will worked for a number of computer companies in a variety of different roles prior to ordination. He was ordained in 1998 and served his title in the Liverpool Diocese. In 2002 Will moved to take up the post of Minister of Springfield Church, originally a church plant out of Holy Trinity, Wallington. Will has always had an interest in mission and the church and has previously been on the Children and Youth Development Group, the Evangelism Sub-group and the Liturgical Group of Southwark Diocese. Will was recently appointed Dean of Fresh Expressions by Bishop Christopher to encourage pioneer ministry and work across the Diocese.

The Revd Andrew Cunnington
Andrew has been Vicar of St Matthew Redhill for the past nine years and has relished the challenge of working with other Christians across the town to help bring about a united approach to mission and outreach. This has resulted in the establishment of strong community links and further opportunities for service. Andrew became Area Dean of Reigate in 2013 and is convinced that larger Deanery groupings give huge opportunities for working together and drawing out the gifts of all. During 2015 Andrew served for some months as Acting Archdeacon of Reigate. He is also Chair of Governors at St Matthew's Church of England School and has helped to lead the school forward in challenging times. Before coming to St Matthew's Andrew served in Chichester Diocese for 20 years and was Rural Dean of Midhurst for four years. Andrew is married to Alison and they have two grown up daughters.

The Revd Michael Kingston
Apart from his title parish in Reading, Michael Kingston has served his entire ministry in southeast London, in the Archdeaconry of Lewisham and Greenwich. He enjoys parish-based ministry, serving at All Saints New Eltham, St Edward's Mottingham and the Ascension, Plumstead before beginning his current job, at St Bartholomew's Sydenham, 21 years ago. This is longer than he imagined when arriving; staying another three years would make him the longest-serving incumbent. He has carried out a number of extra-parochial responsibilities during that time; Archdeaconry Vocations Adviser, Woolwich Area POT director, and Surrogate for Marriage Licences. He has been Area Dean of West Lewisham since 2004. A musician himself, whilst at St Bart's he has become something of a concert promoter, hosting over a hundred concerts, most recently by the Queen's Six. He really enjoys spending time with his family, walking his Scottie dogs, and holidays in Europe.

The Revd Ailsa Newby
Ailsa was brought up in South London and was baptised in Southwark Diocese as an adult, after the birth of her first son prompted a spiritual quest. Originally trained as a solicitor, her early career was in the City but growing Christian faith led her to move to work on criminal miscarriage of justice cases and criminal law reform for the charity NGO Justice. That in turn led her to explore ordained vocation and she was ordained in Southwark Cathedral in 1998. She served her title at Christ Church, Streatham and became Vicar of St Anne and All Saints, South Lambeth in 2001. Since 2010 she has been Team Rector (Designate) in the Parish of Putney, a team of 2 churches, St Mary's by the river and All Saints Putney Common. She is married to a LibDem Life Peer, Richard, and with their 2 sons now grown up, they enjoy walking and the theatre in their spare time. Ailsa also enjoys cooking when dodging her husband's obsession with cricket and football!

The Revd Ben Rhodes
Ben Rhodes is Head of Chaplaincy for King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (an acute teaching hospital trust with sites across SE London), where he leads an ecumenical and multi faith chaplaincy team. Ben is the Bishop of Southwark's Adviser for Healthcare. Having been ordained in Chelmsford Diocese, he served his title at Saint Laurence, Upminster. Whilst there, Ben explored ministry in the context of healthcare chaplaincy at the local hospital, and has since held chaplaincy roles in various parts of London. Ben was the Bishop of Stepney's advisor for Healthcare. He has written on death and dying and healthcare chaplaincy more widely in journals and book chapters. He is a visiting lecturer at St Mary's University College where he teaches on the chaplaincy degree. Away from work Ben enjoys film, travel, and spending time with family and friends.

The Venerable Stephen Roberts
Stephen grew up in Newcastle-under-Lyme and read Theology at King's College, London. After curacies in Sevenoaks and Trafalgar Square, he first came to Southwark Diocese in 1989 to be Vicar of St George's, Camberwell. Stephen has remained in the Diocese since then, moving on to become Canon Treasurer of Southwark Cathedral and Diocesan Director of Ordinands and then, for the last ten years, Archdeacon of Wandsworth. Stephen has recently been appointed as the Deputy Diocesan Secretary and will take up this new role on 1st September 2015.

The Revd Naomi Whittle
Naomi has been Vicar of Stockwell since 2010, having served over the last 25 years, the whole of her ministry, both lay and ordained in the Diocese of Southwark. As well as her work as a parish priest Naomi has assistedwith vocations, clergy training and the Diocesan Zimbabwe link. Currently she is Vicar of Stockwell where they are planning a new parish church and centre. Her interests include Africa, classical music literature and sharing quality time with family members and friends.

The Revd Alan Wild
Alan was Ordained and has served throughout his Ministry in the Diocese of Southwark. Alan trained as an Ordained Local Minister, and is now a self - supporting minister serving as Assistant Priest in the Parish of St Peter, Walworth. He is also Assistant Area Dean for Southwark and Newington Deanery. In his secular life, Alan worked in the printing industry as a Print Finisher for nearly fifty years. He sees his ministry as being very much in the community, even taking him into the local pub, The Queen Elizabeth (he says it is surprising the number of Pastoral issues that emerge from such encounters). In his spare time, Alan enjoys spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren, listening to music (all kinds), reading and Real Ale.